I really do love homeschooling–at least most of it. A couple of friends and I are meeting together every other week for a history coop with our children. They each do a report each week on someone involved during the particular period of history we are studying. We happen to be on the Civil War right now, so the kids have given reports on Gettysburg, Ironsides, Powder Monkeys, Harriet Tubman, the Underground Railroad, Abolitionists, etc. The core book that we read in our home is Across Five Aprils. This is one of my favorite Civil War books as it gives some of the issues and influences of the war over a period of 5 years, as well as giving issues on both sides of the war, and is a captivating story besides. I love to hear the discussions of the moms and friends as we meet together. I love seeing the kids inspired and stretched and engaged. Many people ask me what I use as my core curriculum. I have done this for so many years, I feel comfortable picking and choosing great literature and history units, alternating them, and reading outloud and discussing without even using any guides. My favorite guides are from Beautiful Feet, a wonderful whole book company in California. We are loosely using their American and World History High School guide for some of the books to read together and some of the discussion questions. (Call 800.889.1978 to receive on of their wonderful catalogues!)
Please tell them you heard about them from us, as we love for our friends there to know that Whole Heart highly recommends their materials. They have great taste in good books and have been an encouragement to me since Sarah was 4 years old!) Home coops can be fun if they are small enough and if you have a good plan. It lets all of us moms who enjoy each other have a chance to fellowship, as well as a time for our children to have fun, but it also provides our kids accountability as they prepare reports that each of them will have to deliver to the whole group–what I call positive peer pressure and accountability!
On a different note, this year marks 10 years since I first wrote Season’s of a Mother’s Heart. We will be coming out with a 10th year anniversary edition, with 4 new chapters and more family pictures. Our mom’s conferences in California, Colorado and Texas will be based on the Season’s book this year, so stay tuned for the book and the conference! The following is a quote I wrote those many years ago, which a friend recently sent to me this week. Funny how I need to keep learning and remembering the same things over and over again, as what I wrote then is still so needful in my life today!
As I have shared and counseled with other homeschooling mothers, contentedness seems to be an illusive ideal. For many it seems there is always something out there, just beyond their grasp, that they cannot have but that they believe will make them more happy and fulfilled if they could somehow get their hands on it. But they can’t, and it leaves them feeling anxious, empty and depleted. They reach, but they cannot grasp, not just for material things, but for expectations of how their lives could or should be.
As I have sought the input of seasoned homeschooling mothers on this issue, their response has been consistent. The only way to make it in this homeschooling life is to reach for God instead of reaching for happiness. Trying harder to be happy or content will not make you happy and content; trying harder to rest in God and depend upon His grace will. It is a spiritual issue, not a practical one. Contentedness will not come from being more organized, sleeping longer, being a better wife, having a better home, using better materials, having more time to yourself, or whatever you think might help. Contentedness is learned in the process of daily accepting life as God gives it to you, and adjusting your expectations to life’s limitations.
If it is God’s will for me to homeschool, then He is not asking me to do more than I am able (I Corinthians 10:13) and He is not withholding from me anything that I truly need (Philippians 4:19; James 2:2-8). If I choose to, I can learn to be content with the life that God has given to me, whether I have a little or a lot to live it with. What keeps me from being content is not what God is or isn’t supplying. The real problem is that I, Sally, will not adjust my expectations to life’s limitations—I want more than I can have, ask for more than I need, strive for more than I can do, and expect more than God has promised.
-Sally Clarkson From Seasons of a Mother’s Heart
Have a great weekend!
Sally, thank you. This post has truly touched my heart..I do need to make some real life changes. Like RUNNING to my Heavenly Father and falling to my knees and staying and resting at the CROSS. Because yes, I have thought all those things…if only this, if only that. My identity is in nothing else but the Lord. Now, tell my heart that…..
Dear Sally,
God Bless You!
Thank you for your sweet words which so encourage me! We are also using Beautiful Feet and loving every minute of it! This is our first year and we are using their Medieval Guide. I have to say that moving away from textbooks and to living books has been such a blessing. I had surgery six weeks ago and am still in a fair amount of pain and tire quickly most days. By using living books our family is able to do what we affectionately call “bed school” where we can cuddle up on our big bed and read and read and talk about what we are learning not miss anything. What a blessing it has been to know that we can learn such wonderful things about God, His word and His world all within the limitations He has chosen to give me for this season. I won’t say it’s always easy or I’m always content but I am learning
I love your “Seasons” book. I’ve read it more than once but it’s been several years now. I will buy the new edition once it comes out and look forward to reading it again at this time in my life.
I’m new to your blog and am glad you update it regularly.
I also have loved your seasons book and perhaps will have to get the new version.
After homeschooling for five years I have come to realize that it is hard work. My visions of warm fuzzy homeschooling kept me from being content. This has been the best year of school so far but that is because I have let go of those expectations. (I always thought homeschool children loved to read and when my first one didn’t I thought something was wrong with me and the way I taught. I also thought all homeschool children were advanced) I know crazy delusions. :0)
Has it been that long, already? My, oh my. The Lord had always impressed upon me, even before marriage, of the importance of living life for Him in seasons, not trying to do all and be all at the same time. THIS book helped confirm that in me as a young homeschool mom back in the day, and I just thank you for staying true to that message all these years. As circumstances have moved, blessed, and grown your family’s ministry, your family message never ever wavered! I appreciate that so much, just have never written to tell you that. I remember going to one WHM conference and feeling like I was out of place, b/c the attendees were 80 or 90 % new hs moms, seeing/hearing you all for the first time. I wondered what I was to do next! Ha! (The Lord took care of clarifying that for me
and it was to depend upon Him alone!
I remember the first conference my husband ever came to with me, probably just about ten (or 11) years ago. We had already been homeschooling since January of ‘92.
It was the WholeHearted Child conference that you all hosted with the Andreola’s and the Quine’s in N. Dallas. That was such a gift for me, as dh teaches (now the head of the English Dept. of his school) high school English/Amer. Lit. to kids with Learning “differences” at a ’specialty’ school in the city. Still a very “schoolish” setting with certain homework expectations. He loved listening to all of you, but especially to Dean. Anyhow, you’ve really brought back memories, as that was the year dh really caught his first vision for our homeschool and engaged with us in the dream and the goals.
Ten years and one hs graduate later, (with three more teens to go!) we have readjusted our expectations when the unrealistic ones were dashed mightily upon the rocks of several turbulent moments in our journey. God indeed is our only hope, especially when we are wise enough to see the unrealistic dreams and any dark, doubting thoughts for what they truly are!!
I enjoyed reading your kids’ blogs while they were in the UK. I appreciate their “attitudes of grattitude,” to quote my own Dad. Our oldest (our graduate) went to Scotland to work and minister (music and youth counselor) with a Bible Camp for a couple of weeks, then travelled and visited his new friends all through the UK.
The growth and learning opportunities are beyond measure for them, just as they were for you (Poland, wasn’t it?) and my summers of missions in Germany at their age.
May God continue to bless your family and family ministry, into the next decade and generation!
Sincerely,
Kim in TX
Sweet Sally,
I’ve read Seasons so many times I think I know it by heart. Then I read your paragraph above and realize that your book is timeless. As I grow as a wife and mom, your book will take on new meaning at each stage of life I’m in. Thankyou for using your gift of writing to challenge and encourage each of us moms! I’ll see you here in Ca for your winter conference. No longer in Italy, but lifting up the 6 of you, no matter what time zone….KellieinItalynow, but really in Ca. again!
Hi Sally
Thank you for this reminder: “Contentedness is learned in the process of daily accepting life as God gives it to you…” What a blessing it is to know that we can trust Him in the life He gives, and to know that He is present and interested.
Keeping you in my prayers and close at heart is a joy! Love to you, Q
Sally,
I just came from hearing you speak this morning at Mariner’s. I feel every homeschool mom needs to hear you twice a year!! You and Sarah are such a breath of fresh air. Thank you for your encouragement and your real life stories. You are a blessing!!
I have a question for you.
Do you feel that it is God’s will that every mom homeschool their children?
If so, what do you say to those Mom’s that ask you what God thinks of Mom’s who don’t homeschool their children?
I am planning to homeschool our daughter and feel I already am even though she is preschool age. I have had other christian Mom’s say to me….”You seem so sure that you are going to homeschool and that it is the plan meant for your family”…”But what about me, what if I don’t feel sure that I am supposed to homeschool and what if I choose to send my child to public or private school, what do you think God thinks about that?”
I am honestly not sure how to answer this burning question. So I thought I might ask you how you would respond…I assume in your many years of homeschooling your children, that you have been asked the same thing.
Thanks for our dedication to other Moms and families. You are a true encouragement to me.
Jessica
Thanks so much for this post! I’m sorry to say I’m not familiar with your books, but plan to check into them this weekend. My husband was home from work for lunch today and we were (again!) praying that I would find a way to homeschool our children in obedience and delight. I appreciated your excerpt about homeschooling and the calling to it…that I WILL be equipped and He won’t expect more from me than I can give. I found this post so encouraging and an answer to prayer…our God is so very faithful!